Article for STUC

November 25 2001

Positive Action in Housing is working with communities and housing providers to enable everyone to have an equal chance to live in good quality, affordable and safe homes, free from discrimination and the fear of racial harassment and violence.

Many of you will be aware of our casework service, the Refugee Aid Project (clothing & blankets) and campaigning work to support and assist minority ethnic communities and refugees dispersed to Scotland.

During 2001, Positive Action in Housing dealt with 1524 inquiries.  

Almost half of all our casework came from asylum seekers and refugees. 6,000 asylum seekers have been placed in Glasgow and 2,500 per year will be placed here in the next five years. The main problems they face are racist attacks, daily harassment and isolation. Poverty is also a major factor as asylum-seekers must live on vouchers with a value of between 49% and 70% of income support levels.

Last month, we challenged David Blunkett’s proposals for asylum reform, in particular vouchers and dispersal.

The so-called "smart cards" which were meant to replace vouchers will now carry finger prints and photographs. We believe these ‘hi-tech vouchers’ will criminalise refugee communities, exposing them to further racist attacks in the community.

We are extremely concerned about the setting up of ‘accommodation’ centres. Will such centres offer support, freedom of movement and access to visitors? How will we in the outside world know asylum seekers are treated humanely?

Asylum-seekers must be given an informed choice over where they are dispersed, as well as access to council and housing association housing. We believe such a system would be better than the current ‘disperse-and-dump’ policy which has inflamed racial tension and divided communities.

Positive Action in Housing has responded as best as it can within limited resources. We have organised debates, briefings and cross-party meetings where asylum seekers speak for themselves. We have supported the Chhokar Family Justice Campaign. We regularly organise outreach work and surgeries. We have distributed information to a vast network of tenants organisations, advice agencies and minority ethnic groups across Scotland. Volunteers support us to carry out this work. However, fundraising is a major concern.

That is why we are setting up a ‘friend-raising’ scheme to enable supporters to give money regularly and allow us to claim tax relief on the donations (e.g. a donation of £3.90 per month achieves ‘gift-aid’ of £1.10 per month making the total £5.00). All the money raised will directly assist us to campaign, carry out casework and support minority ethnic and refugee communities.

If you believe in our work, then please make a regular donation with a ‘Gift Aid Declaration’. Just call Lorna on 0141 353 2220 or email us at home@paih.org and ask for a Gift Aid Declaration form. We will then post/email you a reply form and keep you regularly informed of our work. 

To find out more about our work, simply log on to our website at www.paih.org

In solidarity, Robina Qureshi, Director, Positive Action in Housing (Charity No: SCO27577) .